Great Coffee isn't just about the Beans
Cafes are the gold standard for a reason.
Beyond quality beans and precise brewing, baristas shape the texture of milk by carefully introducing air during frothing.
This transforms milk into a smooth, velvety finish known as microfoam.
Only when the bubbles are micro enough, will the foam be silky and shiny.
This will give the drink a rich and creamy mouthfeel.
– Jervis Tan, Two-time World Latte Art Champion
Microfoam is what brings your drink to the next level by giving it a rich and creamy mouthfeel.
When done right, it’s not just milk – it’s an experience
– Ashley Chan, Head of Coffee at Apartment Coffee, Singapore
Images from Instagram by @baristartist (2024) and @apartmentcoffee (2022)
Why Home Frothers Don’t Measure Up
While coffee brewing equipment has evolved rapidly, innovation in milk frothing has lagged behind.
We spoke to real users (baristas, home cafe owners, and coffee drinkers) about their struggles.
Improper cleaning of components results in the accumulation of milk residue. This leads to hygiene issues, odour, and degraded performance. The hassle of cleaning discourages ownership and regular use of frothers at home.
Milk from different brands and milk types have varying fat and protein compositions, affecting its aeration behaviour. While some frothers offer presets for alternative milk, they often lack the adaptability required for consistent results.
Frothing outcomes vary widely with many factors, such as technique, temperature, and even the choice of pitcher. Users across all skill levels face challenges in reproducing consistent, cafe-quality microfoam.
Milk wastage commonly occurs during practice, whether from failed frothing attempts, or from preparing more milk than needed. For home users, this waste translates directly into cost, reducing their willingness to practice.
AutoMilk
Enjoy Better Quicker Smarter Milk Frothing at Home
AutoMilk is an automatic milk frother that delivers cafe-quality microfoam at home with minimal effort.
It simplifies the frothing process by using real-time sensing and AI-driven evaluation to ensure consistent results across all milk types.
Pour milk into the milk tank
Wait for milk to be frothed
Try again if calibration required
Enjoy cafe-quality microfoam!
Designed for Effortless Microfoam
AI Foam Evaluator
At the core is a camera-based AI model, supported by an adaptive light source that ensures robustness under any lighting conditions.
Embedded Sensors
A Time-of-Flight sensor evaluates milk expansion during frothing, estimating the level of aeration.
Adaptive Frothing Mechanism
The automatic frothing mechanism adjusts dynamically based on signals from the AI model and sensors, continuously improving its output.
Trusted By Baristas. Loved at Home
AutoMilk was validated with 25 baristas and skilled coffee enthusiasts.
Here’s what they had to say.
Very Easy!
Average Rating for Ease of Use
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Average Rating for Foam Quality
Project Acknowledgements
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our industry partner, Akronym Pte Ltd (Morning), for entrusting us with this project and for their continued collaboration and support. In particular, we extend our gratitude to Mr Bowen Chiou, Mr Leon Foo, Mr Sullivan Su, and Mr Kevin Lim for their mentorship and insights.
We are also deeply grateful to our academic mentor, Dr Zhao Fang (Senior Lecturer, Engineering Systems and Design, SUTD), whose expert guidance, supervision, and advice were instrumental in shaping our research methodology approach.
Finally, we would like to thank Dr Susan Wong (Centre for Writing and Rhetoric, SUTD) for her constant support and constructive feedback on our communication and presentation strategies, which provided valuable fresh perspectives.
